HCPS celebrates Black History Month!
Honoring 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, we continue his legacy through learning, experiences, and partnerships that highlight African American history and contributions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OeFIo7
Pictured: The Armwoods, digital artwork by Molly McGiveney, 2025 Blake High School graduate.
Honoring 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, we continue his legacy through learning, experiences, and partnerships that highlight African American history and contributions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OeFIo7
Pictured: The Armwoods, digital artwork by Molly McGiveney, 2025 Blake High School graduate.
As we close the chapter on this year’s Literacy Week, we’re excited to spotlight our Hillsborough Reads Bookmark Contest winners one more time! 📚✨
They recently received a surprise visit from our Library Media Services and Academic Services teams, who delivered stacks of their winning bookmarks plus a few extra goodies!
Our winners are:
🏅 Mason R., 1st grade – Lawton Chiles Elementary School
🏅 Emilie (Ziyu) W., 5th grade – Clark Elementary School
🏅 Fiona L., 8th grade – Burns Middle School
🏅 Ashley R., 12th grade – Jefferson High School
🏅 April McMillion, Art Teacher – Sumner High School
Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you for creating incredible designs that brought our theme — “Get Caught Reading!” — to life!
They recently received a surprise visit from our Library Media Services and Academic Services teams, who delivered stacks of their winning bookmarks plus a few extra goodies!
Our winners are:
🏅 Mason R., 1st grade – Lawton Chiles Elementary School
🏅 Emilie (Ziyu) W., 5th grade – Clark Elementary School
🏅 Fiona L., 8th grade – Burns Middle School
🏅 Ashley R., 12th grade – Jefferson High School
🏅 April McMillion, Art Teacher – Sumner High School
Congratulations again to our winners, and thank you for creating incredible designs that brought our theme — “Get Caught Reading!” — to life!
Today, we recognized several of our high school students at the 2026 Battle of the Belts Seat Belt Safety Campaign Awards Ceremony, hosted at Freedom High School! This annual initiative promotes seat belt use and safe driving habits among teens.
This year, 25 high school Student Government Association groups competed in categories including Highest Overall Seat Belt Compliance, Most Improved Seat Belt Compliance, Best Poster, Best Public Service Announcement, and Best Overall Seat Belt Campaign. Thank you to all of our participants and partners, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and GEICO, and congratulations to our winners!
This year, 25 high school Student Government Association groups competed in categories including Highest Overall Seat Belt Compliance, Most Improved Seat Belt Compliance, Best Poster, Best Public Service Announcement, and Best Overall Seat Belt Campaign. Thank you to all of our participants and partners, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and GEICO, and congratulations to our winners!
What better way to celebrate Literacy Week than by announcing some reading superstars across our district! 📚🎉🤩
Congratulations to Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, Burns Middle School, and Jefferson High School on being named the winners of the Superintendent’s Winter Break Reading Challenge.
Each school earned a Reader Leader trophy, their very own Benny the Bean from Beanstack, and $500 for new library books to keep the pages turning.
This reading challenge was one for the books. Way to go, HCPS readers!
We are hooked on celebrating our Hillsborough Treasures! 🤩🎣🌊 Our 2026 Excellence in Education Awards winners were recognized during last night’s School Board meeting. We look forward to shining a light on the incredible impact they make every day over the next year.
They truly represent the depth of dedication, passion, and excellence that runs throughout our district.
They truly represent the depth of dedication, passion, and excellence that runs throughout our district.
Meet Charlena Spicer, the proud new principal of Corr Elementary School!
Charlena began her career in HCPS in 2001 as a teacher at Dickenson Elementary School. She later taught at Deer Park Elementary School and served as the district's MTSS/RTI facilitator before entering administration in 2016 as the AP at Jackson Elementary School. Most recently, she served as the AP at Bevis Elementary School.
Congratulations, Charlena! We're excited to welcome her to the Corr Cubs family!
Charlena began her career in HCPS in 2001 as a teacher at Dickenson Elementary School. She later taught at Deer Park Elementary School and served as the district's MTSS/RTI facilitator before entering administration in 2016 as the AP at Jackson Elementary School. Most recently, she served as the AP at Bevis Elementary School.
Congratulations, Charlena! We're excited to welcome her to the Corr Cubs family!
Congratulations to Christian Finch, the new principal of Barrington Middle School!
Christian began his career in 2000 as a band director in Polk County and joined the HCPS family in 2002 at Randall Middle School. Since then, he has served as a band and orchestra director, assistant principal at multiple sites, supervisor of accountability and improvement, and, most recently, principal of Eisenhower Middle School.
We look forward to welcoming him to the Barrington Bolts family and to the leadership he will bring to the school community!
Christian began his career in 2000 as a band director in Polk County and joined the HCPS family in 2002 at Randall Middle School. Since then, he has served as a band and orchestra director, assistant principal at multiple sites, supervisor of accountability and improvement, and, most recently, principal of Eisenhower Middle School.
We look forward to welcoming him to the Barrington Bolts family and to the leadership he will bring to the school community!
Congratulations to the next round of our Tampa Bay Buccaneers Best Krewe Award recipients for the 2025-2026 school year! 🎉☠️
🏈 Michelle Soto, principal of Forest Hills Elementary School
🏈 Kayla Bulmer, parent liaison/aide at Potter Elementary School
🏈 Marie Puskas, math teacher at Steinbrenner High School
They were recognized during tonight’s board meeting.
🏈 Michelle Soto, principal of Forest Hills Elementary School
🏈 Kayla Bulmer, parent liaison/aide at Potter Elementary School
🏈 Marie Puskas, math teacher at Steinbrenner High School
They were recognized during tonight’s board meeting.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 🗓️ It's almost time for Family Day at the Florida State Fair! Friday, February 13, is a non-student day of school.
Youth ages 17 and under will receive free admission to the fair until 5 p.m. with an admission-paying parent or guardian 21 or older.
While you're at the fair, be sure to stop by the Florida Center and check out the HCPS exhibit area! We'll also have many schools and students showing livestock in the barns. Please stop by and cheer them on!
For more information on the Florida State Fair, please visit floridastatefair.com.
Youth ages 17 and under will receive free admission to the fair until 5 p.m. with an admission-paying parent or guardian 21 or older.
While you're at the fair, be sure to stop by the Florida Center and check out the HCPS exhibit area! We'll also have many schools and students showing livestock in the barns. Please stop by and cheer them on!
For more information on the Florida State Fair, please visit floridastatefair.com.
📚 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Schools across the district are hosting exciting events that highlight the power of reading, creativity, and student voice. Our students are showing that literacy is more than reading—it’s creativity, voice, and expression.
Literacy is alive and thriving in our schools! 🎉📖
🎉 Results are available!
Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet & School Choice Application results are live online.
✅ If you received an offer, you have until Friday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. to accept.
Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your spot!
👉 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet & School Choice Application results are live online.
✅ If you received an offer, you have until Friday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. to accept.
Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your spot!
👉 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
Meet our treasured 2026 Excellence in Education Awards winners! 🤩💎🐠🎉 These three outstanding educators and support staff rise above the tide and make a lasting impact across our district:
🌊 Teacher of the Year: Christi Atkinson, Science/AICE Teacher, Wharton High School
🌊 Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Mary Torres-Cerezo, Licensed Professional Nurse, Willis Peters Exceptional Student Education Center
🌊 Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Ché Counce, Access Points Teacher, Symmes Elementary School
Chosen from 690 nominees districtwide, these incredible individuals are true gems of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Congratulations!
🌊 Teacher of the Year: Christi Atkinson, Science/AICE Teacher, Wharton High School
🌊 Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Mary Torres-Cerezo, Licensed Professional Nurse, Willis Peters Exceptional Student Education Center
🌊 Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Ché Counce, Access Points Teacher, Symmes Elementary School
Chosen from 690 nominees districtwide, these incredible individuals are true gems of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Congratulations!
There will be no classes for students on Monday, January 19. Regular classes will resume on Tuesday, January 20.
📣 Attention HCPS families!
Results for the Magnet & School Choice Application Window (including Hillsborough Virtual) go live on Friday, January 23, at 5 p.m.
⏰ Set a reminder to check your status and take the next step!
🔗 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
Results for the Magnet & School Choice Application Window (including Hillsborough Virtual) go live on Friday, January 23, at 5 p.m.
⏰ Set a reminder to check your status and take the next step!
🔗 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS
We are proud to announce a historic milestone for Hillsborough County Public Schools! Our 2024-2025 graduation rate is an impressive 90.9%, marking the highest rate in the district's history. 🎉🎓
This means 910 more students than the previous year crossed the stage, ready for college, careers, the military, or whatever their next journey in life may hold.
This achievement belongs to our entire HCPS family. From our staff and families to our community partners, thank you for helping our students succeed. Together, we are #LeadingTheWay!
This means 910 more students than the previous year crossed the stage, ready for college, careers, the military, or whatever their next journey in life may hold.
This achievement belongs to our entire HCPS family. From our staff and families to our community partners, thank you for helping our students succeed. Together, we are #LeadingTheWay!
Chamberlain juniors pitched 25 student-created companies—Shark Tank–style—to local business leaders for real feedback and real start-up funding. The top teams earned support to launch at Market Day on March 11. Let the innovation continue! 🚀
New year. New opportunities. 🚦
Looking for stability, great benefits, and work-life balance? Attend our Transportation Job Fair on Wednesday, January 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍9455 Harney Rd, Thonotosassa
We offer medical insurance, retirement plans, free training, paid holidays, guaranteed hours, school calendar vacations, summer 4-day work weeks, and overtime opportunities. Hiring bus drivers and mechanics!
➡️ HCPSJobs.com
Looking for stability, great benefits, and work-life balance? Attend our Transportation Job Fair on Wednesday, January 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍9455 Harney Rd, Thonotosassa
We offer medical insurance, retirement plans, free training, paid holidays, guaranteed hours, school calendar vacations, summer 4-day work weeks, and overtime opportunities. Hiring bus drivers and mechanics!
➡️ HCPSJobs.com
Congrats to Matthew Glassman (Alonso High School), Cierra Roth (Schwarzkopf Elementary), Ashley Shalna (Liberty Middle), Jimmy Lu (Lopez Elementary), and Khrystina Zurita (Sumner High School) on each receiving a $1,000 ACP Scholarship from the Hillsborough Education Foundation! 🎉🎓 Thank you for your hard work and dedication to your schools and students!
Students at Mort Elementary started their day singing and dancing with Jack Hartmann 🎶💃🕺 What a fun and energetic way to kick off a day of learning! 📚✨
Fifth-grade students from McKitrick Elementary School put their football skills to the test with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this morning. 🏈
A fun activity to kick off the second half of the school year! 🤩
A fun activity to kick off the second half of the school year! 🤩
